Vande Mataram row: For Sikhs, where does patriotism end and worship begin?

India's national song, 'Vande Mataram', was performed in its entirety before the national anthem during a T20 cricket match in New Delhi, reigniting a debate over patriotism, religion, and the political ideology of Hindutva. For the first time, both players and spectators stood as 'Vande Mataram' was sung, which lasted more than three minutes, placing the 19th-century poem at the heart of a modern discussion on nationalism and religion in secular India, a country of 1.4 billion people.

Some Indian players sang the opening lines, but most remained silent, then proceeded to sing the national anthem. 'Vande Mataram', meaning 'Mother, I Bow to Thee', was written by Bengali author Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and published in 1875. It is in Sanskrit, making it difficult for many to understand or sing. The song, officially adopted as India's National Song in 1950, is not the country's national anthem, which is 'Jana Gana Mana'.

The debate centers on the song's later verses, which invoke Hindu deities. In 1937, the Congress party endorsed only the first two stanzas for public use to accommodate India's religious diversity. Recently, the government has elevated the song's official status, directing it to be sung or played before government functions and international cricket matches.

This directive has sparked controversy, with supporters viewing 'Vande Mataram' as a symbol of anti-colonial struggle and national pride, and critics arguing that its explicit Hindu religious imagery should not define patriotism in a nation of many faiths. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a leader of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has embraced the song, while the opposition Congress maintains that only the first two stanzas should be sung.

The controversy has spilled into various public platforms, becoming part of a broader debate on nationalism and religious identity.